Nihon Minka-en, A Trip Back in Time

With ten days left in Japan before returning home, we wanted to visit Nihon Minka-en, a collection of historical homes and buildings that had been collected throughout Japan and placed in one convenient spot.  (Think "Williamsburg" or "This is the Place Monument area." ) It was only a 45-minute train ride away.

Leaving the train station in Kawasaki and walking towards our destination, we passed a commonly found business I wanted to point out.  Although this picture is rather  "compromised" due to taking it through a window, the laborer was making a tatami mat by hand, an ancient skill still done by hand today.  Although many new homes use hardwood or something similar to Pergo, some may have at least one traditional Japanese room done in tatami.  And most older homes are are all done in 3'X6' tatami mats.  Since the mats are made of woven rice straw, they are not washable, hence the Japanese custom
of removing one's shoes before entering a home.

It was a joy to be out of downtown, high-rise Tokyo

 where we saw a few hills and homes of the more typical Japanese style.

I was tickled to find another design for manhole covers.  Since they vary from prefecture to prefecture, I can only assume we had crossed into a different prefecture.

Here is the map detailing the route we were to follow in order to view the collection of 25 restored buildings.  Some were still under construction, however.

This was our first stop and one of my two favorite structures!

This was the former residence of the very well-to-do Hara family.  It was not only huge but also equally beautiful.  Note the tatami-mat flooring and the sliding screen doors (shoji) below.  The modern furnishings were mostly instructional materials.  They even had a television which played a video of the restoring of this home, log by log.  It was truly amazing!

I put these two pictures in for Derek as they explained how the wood walls were joined together.

It was truly beautiful!  Most traditional Japanese homes have an alcove where a shrine is placed
as well as a beautiful Japanese scroll and/or plant.

Another view of this beautiful historic home!

The next building was an interesting contrast as horses were kept below the living quarters!

One room was used for storage of artifacts yet to be displayed.

One of our most favorite things:  the "hole" in the floor where fires were built to heat the home

 and above which food was prepared.

Container for grinding grain

Ancient rice cookers!

I can't get enough of these Japanese lanterns!  I may have to find one for our own yard!

Cart used for hauling the rice thatch

We loved the old chest in this home!

And this apothecary chest, too!

Once again, our favorite kitchen area.  Note the carved "fish" in the pulley system.

Sorry, but I don't remember what this interesting machinery is.

Another variety of manhole cover - unfortunately covered in mud

We were unsure as to why this home had rocks all over the roof!

This entrance was part of a gate removed from an old castle.

Our other favorite home!  This and the following homes are from the more northern and western parts of Japan where thatched roofs were very typical.  The roof style is said to resemble that of praying hands, so the Japanese name for it reflects that (gassho zukuri).

The main floor had been turned into a restaurant where only soba and tea were served.  Although the seating was a little uncomfortable for us, the soba was truly fantastic!

The 3'- to 4'-foot thick thatched roofs on all these buildings were very impressive.

Inside a number of these thatched-roof homes, volunteers and guests were seated around the fire as explanations were given.  Unfortunately, this one was all in Japanese.

We loved the old chests in the background and this ancient stove

 where appear to be two different sizes of "rice cookers"!

This building was called the Warehouse on Stilts since everything stored was done so above ground.

I wondered if these weren't the early forerunners of the backpack!

A close-up view of how the thatch starts out thin and then gets thicker and thicker near the end.

Great shot of volunteers in another home.  I believe this is the home where one volunteer spoke English, and we had a great visit!  He told us of another Mormon family who had stopped by a few weeks prior.  It turns out it was President Budge and his family over the Christmas vacation!!!

All I can think of is a clothes hamper; however, I'm sure these held grain or rice.

Another carved fish in the pulley system

The barrel to the left held water that was scooped into this wooden "sink."  The trough behind drained to the exterior of the home.  Very clever for the olden days!

This was a very interesting method of flooring for farm houses, where living was more rustic.  Bamboo poles were covered over with rice straw mats which were much thinner than tatami mats.

Another shot for Derek, showing some carved wooden benches

A water paddle for directing water into the rice fields

More farming implements

Awesome wood beams--if you could see them!

Restored Kabuki stage where plays are performed in the summer

Even though it was late January and with snow on the ground, I wanted to show that a variety of flowers do, in fact, bloom during the winter in Japan.  By the way, in the Tokyo area it only snows once or twice a year, if that.  We just happened  to be there following a recent storm and the resulting muddy thaw!

This was the "dye house" where fabric was dyed before being made into clothing.

One last view from the top of a hill

This was such an enjoyable outing!  Since the original, still existing thatched roof villages are about a day's journey away, we were so very lucky to be able to take this all in within just a few hours

 and so close to the mission office!